LIVE | Covid-19 in SA: Death toll at 24 011, with 892 813 confirmed cases

Biden tests negative for Covid-19 after aide tests positive

US President-elect Joe Biden tested negative for Covid-19 on Thursday, after an incoming White House adviser, Cedric Richmond, contracted the deadly respiratory disease, a spokesperson for Biden said in a statement.

Richmond was not in close contact with Biden as defined by the Centers for Disease Control, spokesperson Kate Bedingfield said.

- Reuters

FACTBOX | Worldwide coronavirus cases cross 73.65 million, death toll at 1 654 920

More than 73.65 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 1 654 920 have died, according to a Reuters tally.

Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.

- Reuters

Europe first region to pass 500 000 virus deaths

Europe became the first region in the world on Thursday to pass the milestone of 500 000 coronavirus deaths, according to an AFP tally based on official sources shortly before 1500 GMT.

The 52 countries and territories of the European region counted at least 500,069 deaths - ahead of Latin America and the Caribbean on 477 404, the United States and Canada (321 287), Asia (208 149), the Middle East (85 895) and Africa (57 423).Europe has once again become the epicentre of the pandemic since October - alongside the United States - after having already been the focus of global attention in March-April.

Almost 37 000 people have died in Europe over the past seven days, the highest weekly toll since the start of the pandemic. On Tuesday, 6 800 deaths were recorded in 24 hours - the highest-ever figure.

Five countries account for more than half of the deaths in Europe: Italy (66 537 deaths), the United Kingdom (65 520), France (59 361), Russia (49 151) and Spain (48 596).

Belgium remains the country with the highest number of deaths in relation to its population, with 158 deaths per 100 000 inhabitants, followed by Italy (110), Bosnia-Herzegovina (107), Slovenia and Northern Macedonia (105).

The European countries with the most new deaths over the last seven days are Italy  (4 798 deaths), Russia (3 846), Germany (3 495), the United Kingdom (2 954), Poland (2 754) and France (2 713).

- AFP

Portugal PM Costa self-isolating after Macron contact

Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa went into self-isolation on Thursday, a day after meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, who has tested positive for Covid-19, his office said.

It said Costa has shown no symptoms and underwent a test for the virus Thursday morning. He will remain in quarantine until health authorities can determine "his level of risk".

The prime minister, who attended a lunch with Macron in Paris on Wednesday, has cancelled all immediate events on his calendar.

These include visits from Friday to Sao Tome and Principe and to Guinea-Bissau, two former Portuguese colonies in Africa, the office said in a statement.

-AFP

Germany sees record daily virus infections of over 30 000

Germany on Thursday reported a daily record of new coronavirus infections of more than 30 000, as it struggles to cope with the outbreak with a fresh partial lockdown.

The Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases, which is managing reporting for the country in the pandemic, revised its initial total of 26 923 for the previous 24-hour period saying around 3 500 more cases had come to light.

"For technical reasons some 3 500 cases from (the southwestern state of) Baden-Wuerttemberg were not reported. The problem has been fixed and the cases are being reported today," it said on its website.

Germany has recorded a total of 24 125 deaths, up by about 700 in one day. Long considered a European example for effective management of the coronavirus pandemic, Germany had managed to keep infection and death rates relatively low for several months.

But beginning with end of summer holidays and the onset of colder weather, the virus began spreading at an exponential rate and the system of testing and tracking could not keep up with the outbreak.

A shutdown of restaurants, bars and cultural venues that was lenient compared to those of many European partners from November 2 failed to get the spread of the virus under control. From Wednesday, the country has been on partial lockdown with non-essential shops and schools closed.

The new curbs will apply until at least 10 January, with companies also urged to allow employees to work from home or offer extended company holidays, under the measures agreed by Chancellor Angela Merkel with leaders of Germany's 16 states on Sunday.

Germans are urged to limit their social contacts to another household, with contact limits to be eased slightly between Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

-AFP

India records 24 037 new coronavirus cases

India reported 24 037 new coronavirus infections, taking its tally to 9.96 million, data from the health ministry showed on Thursday.

This is the fourth straight day that daily cases have stayed below 30 000, keeping with the country's trend of declining daily cases since hitting a peak of 97 000 single-day infections in September.

India has recorded the second-highest number of infections in the world after the United States.

Deaths rose by 382, the ministry said, taking the total to 144 451.

- Reuters

Austria reports record number of new Covid-19 deaths - APA 

Austria reported a record number of 218 daily Covid-19 deaths on Thursday, news agency APA reported.

- Reuters

UK reports 25 161 new Covid-19 cases, 612 deaths

The United Kingdom recorded 25 161 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday and 612 deaths within 28 days of a positive test for the virus, according to official data.

Tuesday's data had shown 18 450 new coronavirus infections and 506 deaths.

- Reuters

France's Macron tests positive for Covid-19

The French President said he would now self-isolate for the next week, and continue to work remotely.

Education briefing summary:  

Education Minister Angie Motshekga insisted on Thursday that despite the Covid-19 pandemic, school would open for teachers on 25 January, and for pupils on 27 January 2021.  

She said that the recovery plan to make up for the school days and teaching lost to the pandemic would take at least three years and the department has consulted with stake holders with regard to trimming the curriculum.  

Motshekga said that there were more than one million matric exam candidates and 45 000 examiners have been appointed. She said that exams proceeded well, despite the leaks of physical science and maths papers.  

DBE Director General Hubert Mathanzima Mweli said the leak source was at Government Printers and wider than the department thought, and he argued that the court erred in its analysis of the situation in overturning the rewrite decision.  

Dr Rufus Poliah said that marking would start on 4 January, while 22 January would be the cut-off for marking to be completed. The DEB computer system will shut down on 21 January for all marks to be captured and Umalusi will conduct standardisation of marks.  

In terms of the new year, Motshekga expects some 300 000 new pupils in the school system and she argued that pupils in Grade 1 should not repeat, but rather be given the support they need to progress.  

- Compiled by Duncan Alfreds  

Repetition rates are too high - pupils need support, says Motshekga of Grade 1 pupils.  

Says older pupils may benefit from repeating grades

Motshekga expects 300 000 new pupils in the school system.  

Some provinces have outstanding issues

Motshekga insists that there was a rigorous process in announcing the rewrite.  

Says that the department has instruments and tools to detect cheaters.  

We don't have a full sense of the leak, says Motshekga

DG will present an evidence based report to Umalusi - based on all the class of 2020 have been exposed to.  

Grade 12 class lost 47 teaching days.  

Umalusi will determine whether marks will be adjusted

Computer system will shut down on 21 January for all marks to be captured. Umalusi will conduct standardisation of marks.  

The standard of a question paper can only be determined after it is written, says Poliah

Department accommodated candidates even where they were incorrectly registered.  

Says every pupil was able to write exams, and those who tested positive wrote in isolation

Dr Rufus Poliah says administering exams was challenging, but: "We coped extremely well."  

Says the marking phase will take 18 days, longer than the 10 to 12 days of previous years

There were more than one million matric exam candidates, says Motshekga, and 45 000 examiners have been appointed.  

Exams proceeded well, despite the leaks of physical science and maths papers.  

Motshekga says the court ruling on the rewrite did not help the credibility of the exams.  

Department intends to return to court to correct "wrong utterances"

Motshekga highlights the launch of the reading club as an example to children that reading is important.  

Mathematics and science improvement in SA, but grade 9 pupils could be improved more.  

Grade 5 results have been static

Pupils are expected back at school on 27 January; teachers will be back on 25 January.  

Despite the pandemic, schools will open, says Motshekga.  

Indicates that she has had meetings with colleagues in Africa

Minister of Basic Education, Angie Motshekga, will brief media on the state of readiness for schools in the context of Covid-19.

She is also expected to provide details and answer questions on all matters affecting the basic education sector.

Bolsonaro backs vaccine campaign despite personal opposition

Brazil President Jair Bolsonaro performed an about-turn on Wednesday as he backed a mass coronavirus immunisation campaign a day after warning about vaccine side effects.

Health Minister Eduardo Pazuello said the campaign could start as soon as February in a country that has seen seven million infections and almost 183 000 deaths among its 212 million population.

"After the storm, the calm. The 27 (state) governors have just one goal: the common good, the return to normal," said the far-right Bolsonaro during a ceremony to present an immunisation campaign that has come under heavy criticism.

Bolsonaro said he would this week sign an order to release 20 billion reais (around $3.2 billion) to buy doses "of a vaccine that meets the safety and effectiveness criteria" of Brazil's health regulatory agency Anvisa.

He promised to make the vaccine "free and not compulsory".

- AFP

Germany aims to begin virus vaccinations 27 December - minister

Germany plans to begin a coronavirus vaccination campaign on 27 December, Health Minister Jens Spahn announced on Wednesday, with the European Union aiming for all 27 member states to begin on the same day.

Spahn said in a statement that people in elderly care homes would be the first to receive the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine once it is approved for use.

- AFP

US Interior Secretary Bernhardt tests positive for Covid-19

US Interior Department Secretary David Bernhardt tested positive for Covid-19 on Wednesday, a representative for the department said.

Bernhardt was asymptomatic and would continue to work while in quarantine, Interior spokesperson Nicholas Goodwin told Reuters by email.

- Reuters